Harvester



PR-MANNY.

HARVESTER.

( No Model.)

Patented May 1, 1888.

Witness 2 5 N. PETERS. Pmwum m. wawnm n. a

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN P. MANEY, OF ROGKFORD, ILLINOIS.

HARV ESTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 276,847, dated May 1, 188?, Application filed January 18, 1883. (No model.)

This invention relates to animproved con-; struction and arrangement of the means em ployed to transmit motion from the driving, wheels of a harvester to the cutters, the ob-.

ject sought to be obtained being simplicity, compactness, and durability.

The invention consists, in substance, in arranging the main frame upon thev axle between the two main wheels, and in driving the crank-shaft, which is supported on the main frame by means of two sprocket-wheels and a chain-connection, one of the sprocketwheels being mounted between the main wheels of the machine, and the other being connected with a gear that meshes with a pinion on the crank-shaft. Motion is transmitted from the crank-shaft to the cutters through the medium of a pitman, in the usual way. The box that carries the crank-shaft is so constructed that it will also support the bevelgear and the chain-wheel that drives the crankshaft and hold the said gear firmly in mesh with the pinion on said shaft. This may be effected by forming abearing or stud upon the side of the crank-box at some point between the crank-head and bevel-pinion, and mount ing the bevel-gear and associatedsprocketwheel thereon. Instead, however, of thus arranging the bevel-gear bet-ween the pinion and the crank-head, the gear and the sprocketwheel may be mounted upon a shaft passing across the head of the crank-box, the bevelpinion in this case being placed at the proper point on the crank-shaft to engage with the bevel-gear, and the box being cutaway sufficiently for this purpose. The bevel-pinion might be cast directly on the crank-head.

The invention is fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the harvester embodying the invention, Fig. 2 being a side view of the same, one of the main wheels being removed, and Fig. 3 being a front view of the crank-box and associated parts detached. Fig. 4is a modification showing the bevel-pinion constructed on the back of the crank-head instead of, as in Fig.3, on the opposite end of the crankshaft.

Referring to the drawings, Figs. 1 to 3, more in detail, A is the main frame, secured to the axle between the two main wheels.

B is a sprocket or chain wheel, mounted on the axle and driven by engagement with a backing-ratchet on the driving-wheel G; andD is the crank-shaft, rotating in the box E, secured to the side of the frame A. Projecting i from the side of this box E is a post or stud,

F, aroundwhich revolves a hub carrying 'a second chain-wheel, G, and a bevel-gear, H, thelatter of which meshes with the pinion I on the crank-shaft.

J is a chain connecting the wheel B with the wheel G. K isa coupling-frame hinged at one end to a hanger, L, at the rear of the main frame, and at the other to the arm M, projecting from the crank-box E. This couplingframe supports the shoe N, to which the finger-beam O is secured. The bar or rod which composes the frame K passes through cars on the shoe and constitutes an axis around which the finger-beam may turn in adjusting itself to the inequalities of the ground. The hinge between the main frame and the couplingframe and between the latter and the shoe makes the finger-beam whatis knownin the art as a floating finger-beam. The construction of the coupling-frame and the shoe need not be further described, as they constitute no part of the present invention and are described in detail in Letters Patent of the United States No. 216,744.

It will be observed that under the construction here shown the crank-box is so placed on the main frame as to be substantially in line with the cutting apparatus. The cutters (not shown in the drawings) will be driven by a pitman connecting the heel of the cutter-bar with i the crank-pin on the crank-head P.

The above construction will be found to constitute a remarkably direct, simple, compact, and reliable connection between the drivingwheels of the machine and the cutters. 1t wholly avoids the necessity of the nice'tittings and adjustments required when gear-connections from the main axlefto the crank-shaft are used, and the straining and twisting to which the main frame of a harvester is inevitably subjected does not lessen the power of the Wheels upon the knives.

The advantage of mounting the crank-shaft and the bevel-gear and chain-wheel that drive it on the same box is apparent. This mode of mounting keeps these parts rigidly and constantly in their proper relation to each other, and thus greatly lessensfriction. There is also a manifest advantage in connecting the coupling-frame K and the chain-wheel G with the same box or support in the manner shown in the drawings. When these parts are thus arranged the lateral pull of the cutting apparatus upon the box in one direction is largely counteracted by the pull of the chain upon the sprocket-wheel on the other side of the box;

Manifest] y it is not necessary that the crankshaft occupy a position at right angles to the plane of the main frame. It may be set vertical or inclined, at the option or convenience of the builder.

Fig. 4 shows in elevation a modification of the construction shown in Fi g. 3. The modification consists in constructing the bevel-pinion I directly on the back of crank-head P, instead of on the opposite end of the shaft.

What is claimed as new is- 1. The combination,in the two-wheeled frontand the main axle or the main driving-wheel,

substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

2. The combination,in the two-wheeled frontcut harvester set forth, of a coupling-frame hinged so as to rise and fall with the undulations of the ground, a gear-supporting frame connected with the main axle, a cran k-box mounted on the main frame, substantially in line with the cutters, and a gear-wheel and chain-wheel supported on the crank box, substantially as described.

3. The combination, in a harvester, of a box mounted on the main frame and constituting a support for the crank-shaft and for the chainwheel and bevel-gear for operating the crankshaft, and the coupling-frame hinged at one end to such box, substantially as described.

JOHN P. MANNY.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM C. BLINN, LEWIs A. WEYBURN. 

